THE WEEK THAT WAS

Shaadi Mubarak Ho | ARY Digital, Thursday 8pm

Finally, a refreshing rom-com serial with an awesome OST, brisk pace and crisp humour. Yasir Hussain’s doing the screenplay and the direction is by Wajahat Rauf (Karachi Se Lahore, Lahore Se Agay).

Hilarious as a Pakhtun driver, Yasir also plays the lead and perhaps has more up his sleeve later on in the serial. Salman Shahid, Asad Siddiqui, Bushra Ansari and Gul-i-Rana Azhar shine in their cheerful roles. Let’s hope the leading lady Kubra Khan has something new to offer in her umpteenth role as the naak-pe-ghussa haseena.

Mohabbat Tum Se Nafrat Hai | Geo TV, Friday 8pm

With superb performances by Imran Abbas, Shehzad Sheikh, Ayeza Khan and Saba Faisal, and directed by Farooq Rind Mohabbat Tum Se Nafrat Hai (MTSNH) soars. An aura reminiscent of Bajya’s Shama or Ana, each dialogue by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar is to be savoured because his lines (often punctuated by mild expletives) may not always sound very nice but they go straight to the heart. Of course the love triangle between Gulrez, Maheen and Waqar makes your heart ache for Waqar (Imran Abbas), amidst complications and suspense.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR (OR NOT)

Tumhari Maryam | Hum TV, Friday 9.10pm

Everyone seems to be casting newcomer Ramsha Khan (Teen Shauqeens, Mohabbat Hojayegi Aakhir and Wo Aik Pal) lately and she has bagged the title role in Tumhari Maryam (TM) directed by Misbah Khalid. The first episode ended on a stunning dulhan ek raat ki note when the bridegroom disappears in the dark of the night and the bride receives a divorce deed at breakfast, but the second episode fell flat despite overreaction and ranting (Nargis Rasheed) and Junaid Khan’s entry was pretty insipid.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 16th, 2017